U.S. patent number 11,194,977 [Application Number 16/848,886] was granted by the patent office on 2021-12-07 for merchandise reading apparatus and merchandise information processing apparatus.
This patent grant is currently assigned to TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA. The grantee listed for this patent is TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA. Invention is credited to Seiya Kishimoto, Yuki Koike, Sadatoshi Oishi, Sunao Tsuchida, Jun Yaginuma.
United States Patent |
11,194,977 |
Tsuchida , et al. |
December 7, 2021 |
Merchandise reading apparatus and merchandise information
processing apparatus
Abstract
According to one embodiment, a merchandise reading apparatus is
equipped with a storage chamber formed of a radio wave shielding
member and a reading apparatus which reads information of a radio
tag from merchandise attached with the radio tag and stored in the
storage chamber, and at least a part of the storage chamber is
formed of a light transmitting member.
Inventors: |
Tsuchida; Sunao (Mishima,
JP), Oishi; Sadatoshi (Fuji, JP), Yaginuma;
Jun (Izunokuni, JP), Kishimoto; Seiya (Shinagawa,
JP), Koike; Yuki (Shizuoka, JP) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA |
Tokyo |
N/A |
JP |
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Assignee: |
TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
(Tokyo, JP)
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Family
ID: |
65231125 |
Appl.
No.: |
16/848,886 |
Filed: |
April 15, 2020 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20200242311 A1 |
Jul 30, 2020 |
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Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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16030885 |
Jul 10, 2018 |
10657336 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Aug 7, 2017 [JP] |
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JP2017-152661 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06K
7/10297 (20130101); G06K 2007/10504 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G06K
7/10 (20060101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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2009010865 |
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Jan 2009 |
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JP |
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2010-103421 |
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May 2010 |
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JP |
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2012-194195 |
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Oct 2012 |
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JP |
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2013-163579 |
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Aug 2013 |
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JP |
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2016-162177 |
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Sep 2016 |
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JP |
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2008/117499 |
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Oct 2008 |
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WO |
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Other References
Non-Final Office Action for U.S. Appl. No. 16/030,885 dated Oct. 3,
2019. cited by applicant .
Chinese Office Action for Chinese Patent Application No.
201810835624.3 dated Apr. 19, 2021. cited by applicant .
Japanese Office Action for Japanese Patent Application No.
2017-152661 dated Mar. 23, 2021. cited by applicant .
U.S. Appl. No. 16/030,885, filed Jul. 10, 2018. cited by
applicant.
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Primary Examiner: Marshall; Christle I
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Amin, Turocy & Watson, LLP
Parent Case Text
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application is a Continuation of application Ser. No.
16/030,885 filed on Jul. 10, 2018, the entire contents of which are
incorporated herein by reference.
This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority
from Japanese Patent Application No. P2017-152661, filed Aug. 7,
2017, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by
reference.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A merchandise reading apparatus, comprising: a storage chamber
comprising a radio wave shielding member and a light transmitting
member that comprises a transparent conductive film laminated on a
transparent material, wherein the light transmitting member is
located at a position of at least one face of the storage chamber;
and a reading apparatus configured to read information of a radio
tag attached to merchandise and stored in the storage chamber.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage chamber
has a rectangular parallelepiped shape with six faces, and at least
one face of the six faces comprises the light transmitting
member.
3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein of the six faces,
one face is an insertion face through which the merchandise is
inserted and comprises the light transmitting member.
4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the radio wave
shielding member comprises a metal plate.
5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the radio wave
shielding member comprises a radio wave absorbing material that
absorbs radio waves.
6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light
transmitting member comprises a glass covered with a transparent
conductive film.
7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transparent
conductive film comprises a tin-doped indium oxide film.
8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transparent
conductive film comprises a silver nanowire film.
9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transparent
conductive film comprises a silver nano ink.
10. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the insertion face
comprises a tin-doped indium oxide film.
11. A merchandise information processing apparatus, comprising: a
reading apparatus configured to read information of a radio tag
attached to merchandise and stored in a storage chamber, the
storage chamber comprising a radio wave shielding member and a
light transmitting member that comprises a transparent conductive
film laminated on a transparent material, wherein the light
transmitting member is located at a position of at least one face
of the storage chamber; and a data processing apparatus configured
to perform registration of the merchandise from the information of
the radio tag read by the reading apparatus.
12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the storage
chamber has a rectangular parallelepiped shape with six faces, and
at least one face of the six faces comprises the light transmitting
member.
13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein of the six faces,
one face is an insertion face through which the merchandise is
inserted and comprises the light transmitting member.
14. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the radio wave
shielding member comprises a metal plate.
15. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the radio wave
shielding member comprises a radio wave absorbing material that
absorbs radio waves.
16. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the light
transmitting member comprises a glass covered with a transparent
conductive film, a tin-doped indium oxide film, or a silver
nanowire film.
17. A merchandise processing method, comprising: reading
information of a radio tag attached to merchandise and stored in a
storage chamber, the storage chamber comprising a radio wave
shielding member and a light transmitting member that comprises a
transparent conductive film laminated on a transparent material,
wherein the light transmitting member is located at a position of
at least one face of the storage chamber; and registering the
merchandise from the information read from the radio tag.
18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the storage chamber
has a rectangular parallelepiped shape with six faces, and at least
one face of the six faces comprises the light transmitting member.
Description
FIELD
Embodiments described herein relate to a merchandise reading
apparatus and a merchandise information processing apparatus and
methods related thereto.
BACKGROUND
A merchandise reading apparatus is known which collectively
accommodates merchandise attached with an RFID tag, collectively
reads information of the merchandise from the RFID tag, and
transmits the read information to an information processing
apparatus which manages the information of the merchandise. Such a
merchandise reading apparatus can be used in various cases, for
example, merchandise management in the warehouse, merchandise
management in the medical field, and merchandise management in the
store.
However, in the merchandise reading apparatus of the related art,
the periphery thereof is surrounded by opaque metal walls to
prevent the leakage of radio waves to the outside. Therefore, since
the interior is not visible, it is not easy to recognize whether
merchandise is present in the merchandise reading apparatus, and
the reading of an RFID tag can hardly be executed after confirming
what kind of merchandise is present in the merchandise reading
apparatus.
Accordingly, it is desired improvement to prevent goods or a goods
basket used for accommodating goods from being left behind.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view illustrating a configuration
of a merchandise information processing apparatus according to an
embodiment; and
FIG. 2 is an external perspective view illustrating a schematic
configuration of a merchandise reading apparatus.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
An exemplary embodiment provides a merchandise reading apparatus
and a merchandise information processing apparatus which are
capable of confirming merchandise placed inside the merchandise
reading apparatus.
In general, according to one embodiment, a merchandise reading
apparatus includes a storage chamber and a reading apparatus. The
storage chamber is formed of a radio wave shielding member. The
reading apparatus reads information of a radio tag from merchandise
attached with the radio tag and stored in the storage chamber. In
the merchandise reading apparatus, at least a part of the storage
chamber is formed of a light transmitting member.
According to another embodiment, a merchandise processing method
involves reading information of a radio tag attached to merchandise
and stored in a storage chamber, the storage chamber comprising a
radio wave shielding member and a light transmitting member; and
registering the merchandise from the information read from the
radio tag.
Hereinafter, an exemplary embodiment will be described with
reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view illustrating a configuration
of a merchandise information processing apparatus 100 to be used
for sales registration of goods and inspection work at warehouse or
the like according to an embodiment, and FIG. 2 is an external
perspective view illustrating a merchandise reading apparatus
incorporated in the merchandise information processing apparatus
100 in a partially broken manner. Incidentally, reference symbol
"M" indicates goods, and reference symbol "T" indicates an RFID tag
(Radio Frequency IDentifier) as a radio tag attached to each of
goods. The RFID tag T includes a chip including a memory unit
capable of memorizing tag identification information such as a tag
ID on a resin base, and an antenna.
The merchandise information processing apparatus 100 is installed
to be used at a store such as a supermarket and a clothing store,
and at warehouse. The merchandise information processing apparatus
100 includes a counter 101. In a main body 102 of the merchandise
information processing apparatus 100 is provided with a display
unit or an input unit.
On the left side of the main body 102, a merchandise reading
apparatus 110 is included to read an RFID tag T attached to each of
goods M.
The merchandise reading apparatus 110 is connected to the
merchandise information processing apparatus 100, and outputs
(transmits) various kinds of information obtained by reading from
the RFID tag T attached to various goods to the merchandise
information processing apparatus 100.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the merchandise reading
apparatus 110 in a partially broken manner. The merchandise reading
apparatus 110 includes a rectangular parallelepiped storage chamber
120 forming the main exterior of the merchandise reading apparatus
110 and a placing table 130 which is placed on a bottom plate 121
(to be described below) of the storage chamber 120 and placed with
a goods basket S thereon.
The storage chamber 120 includes the bottom plate 121 fixed to the
counter 101, a back wall member 122, a left wall member 123, a
right wall member 124, and an opening and closing lid 125 which are
provided upright on each side of the bottom plate 121, and a
ceiling plate 126 disposed on a top. These bottom plate 121, back
wall member 122, left wall member 123, right wall member 124,
opening and closing lid 125, and ceiling plate 126 are formed with
a flat plate to be in a rectangular shape, respectively, thereby
forming a rectangular parallelepiped shape as a whole. With the
opening and closing lid 125, a customer can perform putting-in and
taking-out the goods basket S by opening and closing the lid.
The bottom plate 121, the back wall member 122, the left wall
member 123, and the right wall member 124 are formed of a radio
wave reflecting member such as a metal plate serving as an opaque
radio wave shielding member, or formed with a radio wave absorbing
material which absorbs radio waves. Incidentally, the opening and
closing lid 125 and the ceiling plate 126 are formed of a light
transmitting member which shields the radio waves. As an example of
the light transmitting member shielding the radio waves, a film or
glass covered with a transparent conductive film on the surface
thereof such as an ITO film (tin-doped indium oxide film) or a
silver nanowire film, a film or glass patterned with a silver nano
ink, and the like can be included.
The placing table 130 is formed of an insulative (radio wave
transparent) plate-shaped member made of wood or glass, and is
supported to have a predetermined gap with the storage chamber
120.
The interior of the placing table 130 is provided with an RFID
antenna 131 used to read and write information of the RFID tag T.
Here, as the RFID antenna 131, an antenna device for both
transmission and reception is used which accommodates a planar
patch antenna in a rectangular parallelepiped casing. The RFID
antenna 131 is connected to a reader/writer 133 which communicates
the RFID tag T to perform reading information memorized in the
memory unit of the RFID tag T and writing information to the memory
unit. Incidentally, the reading apparatus is constituted by the
RFID antenna 131 and the reader/writer 133.
The merchandise information processing apparatus 100 having a
configuration as described above is used as follows. An RFID tag T
is attached to each of goods M when shipping from a factory or the
like, or before arranging goods in a store or the like. After the
RFID tag T is attached to the goods M, a user picks up the goods M
and accommodates it into a goods basket S. The user places the
goods basket Sin the merchandise reading apparatus 110 of the
merchandise information processing apparatus 100 at the stage of
inspection. The customer closes the opening and closing lid 125,
and instructs an inspection operation through a liquid crystal
display panel provided on the main body 102.
The merchandise reading apparatus 110 starts a reading operation of
an RFID tag T. Based on a signal from the reader/writer 133, radio
waves are output from the RFID antenna 131, thereby performing
communication (reading and writing) with each of the RFID tags T in
the goods basket S. After reading all the RFID tags T, reading
completion is displayed by the display unit, and thus displaying of
inspection completion is performed.
After the inspection is completed, the user opens the opening and
closing lid 125, and takes out the goods basket S from the
merchandise reading apparatus 110, thereby completing the
inspection. At that time, since the opening and closing lid 125 and
the ceiling plate 126 of the storage chamber 120 are transparent,
the customer can recognize the goods basket S placed in the
merchandise reading apparatus 110, so that the goods basket S is
hardly left behind. In addition, during inspection, it is possible
to confirm what kind of goods is to be inspected. From the start,
if the goods are not the goods to be inspected, it is possible to
remove the goods from the goods basket.
According to the merchandise information processing apparatus 100
of the exemplary embodiment, since a part of the storage chamber
120 is transparent, after accounting, it is possible to prevent
that the customer leaves the goods or the goods basket S
behind.
Incidentally, although the storage chamber 120 described above has
a rectangular parallelepiped shape, the shape is not limited
thereto. In addition, among the bottom plate 121, the back wall
member 122, the left wall member 123, the right wall member 124,
the opening and closing lid 125, and the ceiling plate 126
constituting the storage chamber 120, which member to be formed of
an opaque radio wave shielding member or a light transmitting
member shielding the radio waves can be appropriately changed
depending on the positional relationship with the main body 102 of
the merchandise information processing apparatus 100. For example,
if plural merchandise information processing apparatuses 100 are
disposed to be adjacent to each other on both sides, only the left
wall member 123 and the right wall member 124 may be formed of an
opaque radio wave shielding member, and if the user is present on
the back side of the merchandise information processing apparatus
100, in order that the user easily recognizes the goods basket S
being left behind, the back wall member 122 may be formed of a
light transmitting member shielding the radio waves.
In addition, an opening may be provided instead of the opening and
closing lid 125.
Further, a merchandise information processing apparatus used for
inspection is described as an example, however, the apparatus may
be applied to an accounting apparatus for selling merchandise at a
store, for example, in addition to warehouse.
While some embodiments have been described, these embodiments are
merely examples, and are not intended to limit the scope of the
exemplary embodiment. These novel embodiments may be implemented in
various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and
modifications may be made without departing from the scope and
spirit of the exemplary embodiment. These embodiments and the
modifications are included in the scope and spirit of the exemplary
embodiment, and are included in the exemplary embodiment described
in the claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *